Special forces begin crackdown on Ukraine protestors

Ukraine will draw on a new anti-protest law to use force against demonstrators in Kiev, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said yesterday (21 January). Special 'Berkut' forces began their crackdown on Kyiv's EuroMaidan square at 8 a.m., according to reports, with the first victim confirmed.

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso condemned on Wednesday recent episodes of violence in Ukraine and warned of 'possible actions' the EU might take if the Ukrainian government does not address the situation.

"If provocateurs do not stop, then the authorities will have no other choice but to use force under the legislation and protect our people," Azarov said, speaking to the Russian TV channel "Vesti 24". Azarov added that he hoped that common sense would prevail.

However, he said that the question of a state of emergency in Ukraine was not on the agenda, because the government had an opportunity to solve the problem another way. "The situation in Kyiv is far from that, when you need even theoretically to consider the possibility of introducing a state of emergency," Azarov said.

The controversial new laws, branded as "dictatorship" laws by the pro-EU opposition, are aimed at cracking down on the opposition and enter into force today (see background).

According to the website of the Ukrainian daily Pravda, the 'Berkut' special forces have started their attack on protestors at 8 a.m. local time. According to sources, 8.000 people, including 4.631 interior troops, 1.460 police forces and 1530 ‘Berkut’ special forces will take part in the “cleansing” of the central area of Kyiv from protesters.

Two people killed

Two people have reportedly been killed, both at the age of 40. According to TV Channel 5, the name of one of them is Sergei Nigoyan. According to the BBC correspondent in Ukraine, one of the heads of the medical service of the EuroMaydan protestors confirmed the death of a a second protestor in the street clashes in Hrushevskoho street. Reportedly, the young man received four gunshot wounds. His death took place around 6 a.m. local time.

The Ministry of Interior confirmed the second death.

“There is a dead body. It is located at the place where medical assistance is provided. The nature of wounds and injuries is not yet established”, Pravda quotes the police.

Social media circulate photos of police “on safari”, that is, shooting at protestors.

More than 30 journalists have been wounded during the recent confrontations. According to reports, special forces specially aim at journalists, which wear distinctive reflector vests, firing plastic bullets in the head.

Big brother

According to the new legislation, GSM data can be used as evidence against protestors. Yesterday many people in the EuroMaidan area of Kyiv received an SMS reading "Dear subscriber, you are registered as participant in a mass disturbance".

In the meantime, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov Russia told European governments on to stop meddling in Ukraine's political crisis, warning that events could be spinning out of control.

This article will be updated as the situation develops. The website Levyi bereg offers a live broadcast from EuroMaidan

Background

The Ukrainian government announced on 21 November that it had decided to stop its preparations to sign an Association Agreement (AA) with the EU.

Following the news that Yanukovich failed to sign the AA at the Vilnius summit on 28-29 November, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets, demanding his resignation [read more]. The protests, called EuroMaidan, have lasted ever since.

On 16 January supporters of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich hastily pushed through in Parliament new laws, in an attempt to curb anti-government protests. The Commission called these laws “shocking” and “disrespectful to democracy” [read more].

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Ukraine opposition leaders signed an EU-mediated peace deal with President Viktor Yanukovich today (21 February), aiming to end a violent standoff that has killed at least 77 people and opening the way for an early presidential election this year.

Victoria Nuland, the United States' top diplomat for Europe and Eurasia, apologised yesterday (6 February) after a voice recording of her using crude language about the EU with the US ambassador to Kyiv was published on YouTube.

President Vladimir Putin raised the pressure on Ukraine yesterday (29 January), saying Russia would wait until the neighbouring country formed a new government, before fully implementing a $15 billion ( € 11 billion) bailout deal that Kyiv urgently needs. Russia also started extra border checks with Ukraine.

Ukrainian riot police fought protesters occupying a central Kyiv square early today (19 February) after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence. At least 22 people have lost their lives in less than 24 hours.

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The EU's 28 foreign ministers will gather in Brussels for an emergency meeting on Thursday (20 February) to discuss possible sanctions against the Ukrainian leadership after at least 26 people were killed in the crackdown against pro-EU protesters in Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said he reached an agreement with opposition leaders on a "truce" to halt the fighting that has so far killed 28 people. The United States has stepped up pressure by imposing travel bans on 20 senior Ukrainian officials and EU ministers gather in Brussels today (20 February) to discuss possible sanctions on Ukrainian officials.

The United States and the European Union are in preliminary discussions on possible financial assistance for Ukraine once a new government is formed, a State Department spokeswoman said yesterday (3 February). Russian President Vladimir Putin has also said Moscow would wait until a new government was formed before releasing aid to Ukraine.

The European Union agreed yesterday (20 February) to impose sanctions on those responsible for deadly violence in Ukraine and warned it would ratchet up the pressure if the situation there got worse. At least 39 people were killed yesterday in central Kyiv, many by snipers or machine-gun fire. Three EU ministers are in Kyiv to help negotiate a peace plan.

The EU is ready to delegate high-level representatives to act as mediators in talks between the opposition and the authorities in Ukraine, Vitali Klitschko, leader of the opposition UDAR party was quoted as saying today (5 February) after talks in Kyiv with the EU’s foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton.

Thousands of Ukrainian protesters huddled by braziers in their tented camp in the snowbound capital Kyiv over the past night, in defiance of riot police who took up positions throughout the capital as a deadline to clear the streets expired.

Comments

Posted by: A Londoner (not verified)Wed, 22/01/2014 - 16:28

I have found the role of the EU in Ukraine very dubious. There is a legal government and a mechanism, however imperfect, whereby power can be transferred peacefully.
That government has decided it would rather have closer links with Russia than with the EU.
The role of the EU should have been to reinforce respect for the rule of law, including respect for a legal government. It should also have discouraged extra parliamentary activity including very disruptive street protests.
Instead the EU has decided to take sides and to back one side against the other. The EU does not seem to be doing much to strengthen a very weak political culture.

Posted by: United Alliance (not verified)Thu, 23/01/2014 - 00:09

@ A Londoner
WTF are you teachin' here ???!!!
In fact you're very dubious!
"The role of the EU should have been to reinforce respect for the rule of law"
Of course Europe is doin' so !
What can the Europe doin' more if Janukovic made an agreement with Russia merely than with Europe? The deal agreement has been signed between Janukovic and Russia "clean" and fast , moron!
This unfortunately leading uncomfortable against citizens!
Europe hasn't breach the law!
But seems your friend Janukovic who did it as well the confirmed two killed people by Janukovic's orders to authorities!
Oh Sh*t ! you're comment conclude air out the anus

Posted by: An American (not verified)Thu, 23/01/2014 - 02:21

The EU is a very poor loser in this entire affair and now they want to dictate terms to a sovereign nations decision to choose it's own destiny. A nation's democratically dully elected government at that.

Posted by: an european (not verified)Thu, 23/01/2014 - 23:37

Unfortunately not 2 killed ... death counter is climbin'..It's like a Half life playstation game for Janukovic ..2 more defeated ...continuing playing..shot..shot..(cry) "there are more..damn.." ..shot..

Posted by: An American (not verified)Thu, 30/01/2014 - 10:57

A Londoner has hit the nail right on the head. Now EU wants Russia to continue with their bailout package so EU can move in without having to put any skin in the game. Sounds like something the Americans would do.